Helming introduces legislation to form prison contraband hotline

Senator Pam Helming announced that she has introduced legislation to create a toll-free hotline where callers can report information on prison contraband. The establishment of this hotline encourages prison inmates, corrections officers, and citizens to call anonymously to report the whereabouts of illicit weapons, drugs, and other harmful devices in our state prisons.

The hotline would be available to accept calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Modeled after legislation in Pennsylvania, this bill is in response to the escalation in prison violence and the increased presence of contraband in facilities throughout New York State.

“With the exponential increase in prison violence, New York State must adopt common sense legislation to enhance safety in our state prisons. Contraband of all types, including weapons, drugs, and drones, puts the safety of inmates, corrections staff, and visitors in jeopardy. In order to create and maintain a safe environment in our prisons, we must curtail the contraband pipeline from the inside out. Additionally, prisons are not immune to the rampant opioid crisis, and stopping the flow of drugs into our facilities gives inmates an opportunity to rehabilitate during their sentence,” Senator Helming said.

Senator Helming’s hotline legislation (S.9176) is one of several legislative efforts she has introduced to curb the circulation of prison contraband and maintain the safety of corrections personnel, inmates, and visitors.